[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 107 (Monday, August 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO KENNETH A. WALSH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHRISTOPHER COX

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 3, 1998

  Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, when he talked about Medal of 
Honor recipients like Kenneth A. Walsh, President Reagan asked ``Where 
did we find such men?'' He answered: ``We found them where we always 
did--in our villages and towns, on our city streets, in our shops and 
on our farms.'' We found Kenneth A. Walsh in Brooklyn, and, more 
recently, I am proud to say, in Orange County, California. His presence 
alone--for he never boasted, or bragged, or even talked much about his 
service--reminded us of the cost of freedom, and the bravery inspired 
by the American ideal. The nation lost another hero last week. I submit 
to the Record an article from Friday's Orange County Register, so that 
we will always remember him:

            [From the Orange County Register, July 31, 1998]

                     One Enemy He Could Not Defeat

  (Military: Kenneth A. Walsh, a Medal of Honor recipient, dies at 81)

                             (By Tom Berg)

       SANTA ANA--His bags were packed by the front door when he 
     died. His ride to the airport was idling outside. Another air 
     show and another honor were awaiting Kenneth A. Walsh, 
     American hero.
       He died Thursday doing what he'd done for decades--
     promoting patriotism as a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
       Here was a Marine who shot down 21 Japanese planes in World 
     War II. A pilot who crashed or was shot down five times. A 
     man who earned the highest military distinction given in this 
     nation.
       His death, at age 81, leaves just two other living Medal of 
     Honor recipients in Orange County.
       ``He was a natural-born fighter pilot, with guts you 
     wouldn't believe,'' recalled historian, friend and veteran 
     George Grupe, 76, of Newport Beach. ``To fly in when he's 
     outnumbered 50 to one :. :. :. :he was a real tiger.''
       A pilot must shoot down five enemy planes before he is 
     called an ace. Walsh had earned that title twice--downing 10 
     Japanese planes--before fate would usher him into the thick 
     of two firefights in 1943 that would result in his meeting 
     the president of the United States.
       On August 15, Walsh led a squadron of five Corsairs into 30 
     Japanese Val bombers and Zero fighters massing to attack U.S. 
     troops. Walsh shot down two Vals and a Zero before 20mm 
     cannon fire blew holes in the wing and fuel tank of his 
     Corsair. He landed, but his plane never flew again.
       Two weeks later, he spotted 50 Japanese planes while he was 
     flying alone, away from his squadron. He dived into the fray 
     against incredible odds and shot down two Zeros before 
     rejoining his squadron. He then shot down two more Zeros 
     before his Corsair took enemy fire and crashed.
       ``Everyone knew about Ken Walsh,'' said Medal of Honor 
     recipient William Barber 78, of Irvine. ``He was one of those 
     few Marines who gained the day in competition with the 
     Japanese air forces in the Solomon Islands in 1943.''
       After the war, Walsh and his wife, Beulah, walked timidly 
     into the Oval Office, where Franklin Roosevelt handed him the 
     Medal of Honor for gallantry above and beyond the call of 
     duty.
       Walsh uttered few words.
       ``Scared, young man?'' FDR asked.
       ``Yessir!''
       ``Lieutenant Walsh, will you shake my hand?'' Roosevelt 
     asked.
       ``Yessir!'' Walsh said again.
       Quite a moment for a young man from Brooklyn who joined the 
     Marines as a skinny teen-ager. He retired as a lieutenant 
     colonel and settled in Santa Ana in 1962.
       The Medal of Honor has hung on the chests of only 3,412 
     soldiers since the days of the Civil War. Only 163 survive 
     today--11 in California and two in Orange County: Barber and 
     Walter Ehlers, 76, of Buena Park.
       All three men appeared often at patriotic events. They were 
     among eight Medal of Honor recipients from Orange County who 
     were honored with monuments last Memorial Day at the War 
     Memorial Plaza in Santa Ana's Civic Center.
       ``He was very proud of that,'' said Sid Goldstein, 78, of 
     Westminster, past national Commander of the Legion of Valor. 
     ``He took pictures. He wanted to make sure all his family 
     back in Brooklyn got a picture of that concrete. He used to 
     say, `Here I was a poor Irish kid from Brooklyn when I got 
     the Medal of Honor. I never could foresee being so honored 
     and respected in society.' ''
       For all his bravery, Walsh rarely talked abut his heroics.
       ``He was always asked by different people about what he 
     did, and he would tell them,'' said Beulah, his wife of 57 
     years, ``but he never talked to me much about it.''
       Walsh, who died of a possible heart attack, was on his way 
     to Oshkosh, Wis., for an air show where he was to be among 
     four Medal of Honor recipients honored (one for each branch 
     of service).
       ``All I can say is he'll be buried in Arlington National 
     Cemetery, I hope,'' Beulah Walsh said. ``That was his wish.''
       Besides his wife, Walsh is survived by a son, Thomas. 
     Funeral arrangements are pending.

     

                          ____________________